The physical effort required to complete a demanding manual task, particularly one involving heavy scrubbing, sanding, or mechanical persuasion. It implies that no special chemical, tool, or shortcut will solve the problem, leaving raw human energy as the only solution. Supervisors use the phrase to tell workers to stop looking for an easy way out and simply push harder.
Heard on the job
Stop waiting for the solvent to work and just put some elbow grease into cleaning that flange.
Insider tip
When a veteran tells an apprentice to go to the store and buy a can of elbow grease, it is a classic prank to make the rookie look foolish.